Looks like SpaceX will try a 15km (9.3 mile) hop test before Christmas! After two successful 150m (f 500 ft) hops with the SN5 and SN6 prototypes, engineers at SpaceX’s Boca Chika launching facility in South Texas rolled the SN8 – the first Starship To keep the prototype three Raptor engine. But before the SN8 could operate a high-itude altitude test flight, engineers needed to run a static fire test.
This test is crucial to ensure StarshipInterior plumbing can handle its cryogenic propellants, and is the last landmark before that. Starship Can fly high-itude altitude flight. 20 October October, Tuesday eveningM, They did exactly that! At 13:13 AM local time: 01:13 AM PDT; 04:13 AM EDT, SN8 fired three of its Raptor engines and continued firing at them directly for several seconds.
Although SpaceX has not yet released a statement about the test, footage captured near the launch facility by Mary McConaughey (aka) of the NASA spaceflight. OcBocaChicaGal) Suggests that it was a success. Video of the event (posted below) shows the engine running at 2 minutes 27 minutes after ventilation and a few seconds left.
With this milestone achieved, the company appears ready to take the historic 15km (9.3 mi) hop test. At this point, it is likely to occur before the end of October or the beginning of November. While the SN8 was receiving its three Raptor engines and preparing to fire them, the other team was busy assembling the nose cone in the second part of the facility.
Not from Starhopper The test vehicle was an active service Starship The prototype comes with a nose cone. However, this segment was soon removed Starhopper A strong wind blew in January 2019. As it turned out, the lower section of the single engine continued to test a third hop, followed by the first free-flight hop test of 20 meters (65 feet).
In August 2019, these tests ended in a 150-meter (~ 500-foot) hop test, an achievement that will not be completed again a year later with the SN5 and SN7 prototypes. Since then, S.N. The development of the 8 has progressed rapidly, beginning with a series of core proof tests (since Oct. 6).M 8 Oct Oct.M) To validate staticless steel propellant tanks in preparation for its static fire test.
Subsequently, a large mane flute was added to the main section and nasal cone. Then on Thursday (October 22) the nasal cone was placed in the S.N. 8 was connected by a crane to the fuselageN.D.), An event that was seen by many observers who took pictures and footage. The stacking of persecution recorded by the above is an outdated video @ L ab bapedre, Which was created using their 24-hour live-coverage of the Boka Chika launch facility.
With the nasal cone and flips installed, the vehicle now looks like a final form Starship Design for the first time. Combining its three engines, the nose cone and the maneuver flips, the SN8 is ready to try its 15km (9.3 mi) hop test, which will include a “belly-flop” maneuver that will test its ability to move forward. Landing site using sole its maneuver surfaces.
According to Musk’s past statements, SpaceX expects to take suburban hop tests sometime next year at altitudes of up to 200 km (~ 125 miles). For this final test, this Starship Equipped with six Raptor engines – three optimized optimized sea-level thrusts and three optimized for space vacuum. The company is also busy working Super heavy An element of the launch system, with no less than 28 Raptor engines.
Further reading: Artechnica
